Heisman Trophy 2014: Melvin Gordon Will Have Eyes On Prize In Junior Season

By Devin O'Barr

Jeff Hanish – USA TODAY Sports

It’s a good time to be a Wisconsin Badgers fan. Not only is the fourth-ranked basketball team off to a scorching 12-0 start, the Badgers bowl-bound football program also received some great news on Friday. Melvin Gordon set the Big Ten ablaze in 2013 as he finished his redshirt sophomore year with an uncanny 8.3 yards per rush! Thankfully for Badgers fans, Gordon has decided he likes the cheese in Wisconsin more than actual cheese — or money.

Gordon announced that he will be not enter his name in the 2014 NFL Draft, meaning the dynamic running back will be in a Badgers uniform for his redshirt junior campaign.

While Wisconsin has become accustomed to excellent runners wearing Badger red, Gordon is the kind of back that has a legitimate shot at the Heisman Trophy — an award that hasn’t seen Madison since Ron Dayne took home the honor in 1999. There’s no denying the fact that Gordon deserves to be in the same breath as Badger greats like Dayne and Montee Ball as Gordon was a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award this year, which is presented annually to the nation’s top running back.

Similar to the way Andre Williams and Tre Mason climbed the ranks in 2013, I wouldn’t be surprised in the least if Gordon makes a late but strong case for the Heisman Trophy next year.